Located just seven miles south of Sisseton lies Sisseton Wahpeton College. Home to roughly 200 students, the Tribal college offers a wide range of education opportunities from students interested in earning their Commercial Driver’s License certificate to completing a Bachelor of Science degree in Behavioral Science or Business Administration.

For one group of students, taking courses towards a career in healthcare while staying close to home offers more than a textbook example of college life.

The anatomy class, led by biology instructor Carter Jahnig, takes students through the human body systems using a variety of tools including the latest, cutting-edge three-dimensional technology: the Anatomage Table.

The table, purchased through USDA Rural Development’s Tribal College Initiative Grant in 2024, contains three-dimensional scans of seven men and women who donated their bodies to science. Virtual cadavers allow students the ability to virtually dissect and examine the human body in a non-destructive manner.

Melissa Marx, Director of Nursing, said this technology provides students an unparalleled opportunity to learn. 

“I was from the University of North Dakota where we had a cadaver lab and you usually had one cadaver,” said Melissa. “Most places that have real cadaver labs have multiple people working on them, which can be destructive and hard to recreate for the next student. This table allows cadavers to be dissected multiple times and you can just repeat it.”

Having that ability to repeat the same exams means students receive the same experience and detail each time they visit the lab.

Bailey Koshenina is a nursing student taking summer classes to complete her certificate. She said the table is a game-changer for future students. “I feel like we really had to do stuff on our own and reviewing two-dimensional photos in a book. We had videos where we learned from what they did in the video, but we only learned from exactly what they did in the video. This is way more interactive and you can do things on your own and explore it from different perspectives.”

“I tell the students often they can come in and use the table any time they want,” said Carter. “It’s a great opportunity for them to learn, to dive into the systems and really explore the human body.”

Carter adds that the table is more than just a 3D model. The virtual cadavers can be rotated to view from different angles, limbs can be manipulated to see how muscles react to movement, and simulations can be run to show breathing, blood movement, and even a childbirth.

Both Melissa and Carter emphasize that, while the table is unique and a great tool for students, Sisseton Wahpeton College offers much more for those who choose to attend.

Just because we’re small doesn’t mean we’re behind

“Our class sizes are smaller, tuition is less expensive and many of the students live close to the campus,” said Melissa. “The students who complete the program receive a nursing certificate and are ready to join the workforce. Many of them continue to other universities to earn their associates or Bachelor of Nursing degree. It’s also important to remember that just because we’re small doesn’t mean we’re behind.”

Carter added that it goes beyond nursing students. “We’ve had students take the class who need a natural science credit for other programs, or people who just have a genuine interest in anatomy.”

Melissa said this technology not only offers many learning opportunities for students, it eases the burden and logistics of the college to maintain a physical cadaver lab on campus. “Those labs have added security, storage, cooling, and electrical requirements, not to mention that cadavers are hard to acquire. You might be on a waiting list for quite some time. With this simulation table, we have seven readily available at any time.”

Sisseton Wahpeton College received a $278,216 Tribal College Initiative Grant in 2024, which was used to purchase the Anatomage Table, add a plumbing program, and make improvements to the college’s wellness center. Learn more about Tribal College Initiative Grants and other Rural Development programs at RD.USDA.Gov.